WE HAD THREE 'JANS' AT ST. MARGARET'S CHURCH.

THE VICAR PLUS TWO READERS.

SADLY, JAN MARTIN LEFT US IN FEBRUARY 2010 WHICH LEFT US WITH TWO. THEN IN JULY 2010 OUR VICAR RETIRED LEAVING US WITH ONE. 

'WHAT IS A CHURCH OF ENGLAND READER?'

A Reader is a person who is admitted to a distinctive ministry in the church, by the Bishop, and is licensed to the Vicar/Rector of the parish after completing 3 years of training. In practice what Readers do varies according to the needs of the parish.

However there are three principal and generally identifiable roles:-

 a) Liturgical, leading services in church,

b) Preaching and teaching, including leading small groups, and

c) Pastoral, visiting and caring for the people in the parish.

The title Reader is a little outdated these days and many are now referred to as Lay Ministers, i.e. unpaid!

I came to St. Margaret's some three years ago, having served in a previous parish as a Reader for 12 years. On visiting St. Margaret's during an interregnum I was invited to be licensed when Jan Dash came to the church as their new priest.

I was the first Reader to be re-licensed in their Parish Church by The Veneberable Peter Lock, our Archdeacon (now retired).